Innate Immortal Seed

"Based on my authority, I can purchase this batch of Dragon Tooth Rice for fifty-five thousand Spirit Stones. I can also upgrade you to a Thousand Treasures Level VIP. From now on, you’ll receive a ten percent discount on any purchases at any Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion branch, as long as the items aren’t rare treasures headed for auction."

Qing He considered it for a moment more, then decided to play her final card.

Bai Zichen had heard of the Thousand Treasures Level VIP status before. It was a special treatment the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion reserved for its most distinguished clients.

Within the Qingfeng Sect, only Elders at the Palace Master Level and above were qualified to receive this status.

The highest level, the Ten Thousand Treasures Level VIP, could only be obtained by Core Formation True Men.

"Alright, I’ll accept your price. Can the payment be made in Top-Grade Spirit Stones?"

The price was about what Bai Zichen had estimated before he arrived.

The Thousand Treasures Level VIP status meant that in the eyes of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, his standing was approaching that of the Five Halls Masters Level.

He recalled that Ancestor Yangg had used Top-Grade Spirit Stones to purchase Clear Spirit Jade Marrow from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. They were also necessary for activating Magical Treasures and setting up Tier Three Arrays, so he decided to ask.

Having a couple of Top-Grade Spirit Stones would be convenient, and he never knew when they might come in handy.

"You must be joking, Elder Bai. How could our branch possibly have a reserve of Top-Grade Spirit Stones? If you’d like Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, however, I do have the authority to exchange some for you."

Qing He’s expression flickered, worried that a complication had arisen with the Spirit Rice deal.

"Never mind. Let’s just complete the transaction with Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

The difference between Mid-Grade and Low-Grade Spirit Stones wasn’t significant, so Bai Zichen lost interest in the exchange.

It wasn’t as if he had so many Spirit Stones that they wouldn’t fit in his storage bag anyway.

Fifty-five thousand Spirit Stones, neatly stacked in a box. The sight alone brought a comforting sense of security.

After deducting the unpaid stipend for the Spirit Plant Masters and various expenses incurred in his name for cultivating the Spirit Fields, he would ultimately net about thirty thousand Spirit Stones.

Another thousand jin of Dragon Tooth Rice was with Elder Jiangg, to be sold off in smaller batches to various Cultivation Families at a price of ten Spirit Stones per jin.

"Show me all the cultivation-enhancing elixirs you have for sale that are suitable for Early-Stage Foundation Establishment."

Bai Zichen wasn’t the type to just hoard his wealth.

A large influx of Spirit Stones was meant to be spent.

To reach Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment as quickly as possible, he would inevitably need the help of a large quantity of elixirs.

If he relied solely on Spirit Enhancement Pills, he would probably develop a resistance within a few years, diminishing their effects.

He might as well prepare for a rainy day and buy the elixirs he needed for his cultivation in advance.

"Of course, Elder Bai. I will satisfy your request."

With a chance to earn back the Spirit Stones she had just paid out, a bright smile bloomed on Qing He’s coolly elegant face, radiant and dazzling like a rose on a glacier.

In addition to the common Spirit Enhancement Pill, there was the Celestial Heart Purifying Water Pill, suitable for cultivators of Water Element Cultivation Techniques; the Earth Flame Spirit Pill, for those practicing Fire Element Techniques; and the Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill, of which only one could be consumed per small realm...

’Compared to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, the Sect’s Alchemy Hall has far too few pill formulas...’

Bai Zichen watched as Qing He laid out four or five types of Spirit Pills that could help a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s cultivation grow. The contrast with the solitary Spirit Enhancement Pill available in the Sect’s Alchemy Hall was stark.

The most special of these was the Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill. A single pill was as effective as ten Spirit Enhancement Pills.

For any cultivator below Foundation Establishment Perfection, taking one was equivalent to several years of arduous cultivation.

Unfortunately, within each small realm, the Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill was only effective the first time it was consumed.

It was also the most expensive single pill among all the elixirs Qing He had laid out.

"Spirit Enhancement Pills are one thousand Spirit Stones per bottle, Earth Flame Spirit Pills are one thousand two hundred per bottle, and a single Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill is one thousand Spirit Stones."

Qing He quoted the price for each of the elixirs Bai Zichen had indicated.

The Earth Flame Spirit Pill had an effect similar to the Spirit Enhancement Pill and was suitable for both Early and Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, its use was restricted to cultivators who practiced Fire Element Techniques. After refinement, it would produce an Earth Spirit Flame in their Qi Sea.

Once the Dantian Qi Sea assimilated this flame, it would automatically transform into a drop of incomparably pure Fire Element Liquid Magic Power and fall into the Spirit Lake.

"Ten bottles of Spirit Enhancement Pills, ten bottles of Earth Flame Spirit Pills, and one Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill..."

Based on the exchange rates for elixirs within the Sect, Bai Zichen knew that the prices Qing He quoted were quite fair.

Factoring in the Thousand Treasures Level VIP discount, it was an even better deal than exchanging contribution points for them back at the Sect.

In the blink of an eye, he had spent over twenty thousand of the Spirit Stones he had just received.

With this many elixirs, however, he wouldn’t need to worry about his supply for the next four or five years.

"I also need a piece of Thousand-Year-Old Ice Jade, about three inches square."

Thousand-Year-Old Ice Jade was the very solution the Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror had provided to counteract the Fire Poison generated from cultivating the Fire Dragon Returning Essence Scripture.

"Thousand-Year-Old Ice Jade is typically only used by cultivators practicing Ice Element Techniques to aid their cultivation. Our branch doesn’t keep it in stock."

Qing He replied after a moment of thought.

He couldn’t tell if she simply knew the branch’s entire inventory by heart or if she had some special treasure that allowed her to search for items.

"A sect called the Ice Soul Palace produces Tier Three Ice Jade. I will report this to our headquarters, and I’m confident I can get you a satisfactory answer within a few months."

"Excellent. I’ll be waiting for your good news!"

The Ice Soul Palace was a Sect presided over by a Core Formation True Man. Its Mountain Gate was built upon a giant iceberg, and all its disciples cultivated Ice Element Techniques.

On this trip to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Bai Zichen had not only successfully sold his Dragon Tooth Rice, but had also acquired a large amount of the Cultivation Resources he needed.

He had originally planned to stop by Langhuan Pavilion to say hello to Brother Jin, but his mind was preoccupied with the effects of the Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill, so he flew straight back to Feiyue Lake instead.

...

’The Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill... To think such a wondrous elixir exists.’

「Several hours later.」

Bai Zichen was seated in a secret chamber within White Jade Tower. He had lit an incense burner, and fragrant green smoke curled through the air.

This particular Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill was stored by itself in a Jade Box. Nine faint Spirit Patterns circled the Spirit Pill’s surface, a symbol that it had undergone nine full revolutions of refinement and that none of the Alchemy Materials had gone to waste.

He swallowed it in one gulp. The Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill instantly transformed into nine majestic streams of Spiritual Power that surged through his entire body.

The Fire Dragon Returning Essence Scripture began to circulate automatically, converting the immense Spiritual Power into Liquid Magical Power with incredible efficiency.

The surface of the lake formed by the Liquid Magical Power in his Qi Sea began to rise at a visible rate.

A crimson light erupted from around Bai Zichen, bathing the secret chamber in a red glow.

A full thirty days later, the pulsing crimson light finally receded back into his body, returning him to normal.

"As expected of a wondrous Spirit Pill from the Holy Lotus Sect. The effects are incredible!"

Bai Zichen opened his eyes. The time it took to complete the Refinement of this Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill far exceeded that of other elixirs, but the results were equally astonishing.

He had previously estimated that it would take twenty years to fully accumulate his Liquid Magical Power and reach the peak of the Early-Stage Foundation Establishment.

The Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill had saved him at least five years.

’With my current supply of elixirs, I should be able to reach the peak of Early-Stage Foundation Establishment in just seven or eight more years!’

Bai Zichen recalculated. By alternating between Essence Enhancing Pills and Earth Flame Spirit Pills, he could significantly delay the onset of resistance.

Whether it took seven years or eight would depend on just how effective the Earth Flame Spirit Pills proved to be.

His original plan had been to travel to Zengguang Immortal City as soon as he had the strength to protect himself.

To that end, Bai Zichen had already acquired maps and books on the culture and customs of Zengguang Immortal City.

But now, his reasons for going to Zengguang Immortal City no longer seemed so urgent.

He had already officially acquired a second Tier Two Flying Sword by providing the materials himself.

He didn’t have a Top-Grade Storage Bag, but with two Mid-Grade Storage Bags and several Low-Grade ones in reserve, he had more than enough space for normal situations.

The only remaining reason to go was that Zengguang Immortal City might offer more channels for gathering information about Spirit Bodies.

’With Dual Swords Unification and the Second Layer of my Glazed Body, which comes from the Five Crystal Divine Iron Body, I should be practically invincible against anyone below the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment.’

A Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could typically handle four Early-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators with ease. The difference in the total accumulation of Magical Power was just too vast.

They could even unleash certain Tier Three Divine Powers, fighting above their realm, albeit at a great cost.

Bai Zichen was still confident he could hold his own against an ordinary Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

He was only afraid of encountering a fellow Core Formation Seed groomed by a sect, whose Magical Power far surpassed their peers and who was fully equipped with all sorts of treasures.

But if he were ever in a true crisis, he still had an ace in the hole.

Detonate his Glazed Body and form the Glazed Fire Divine Body!

He was confident that with this combination of abilities, as long as a Core Formation Ancestor didn’t get involved, he would be able to preserve his life.

’Forget it. I might as well just cultivate until I reach the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment...’

Bai Zichen’s only regret was that he couldn’t go and witness the grandeur of Zengguang Immortal City right away.

’By the time I cultivate to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, I’m afraid there won’t be much left of the ten-year grace period the Sect has given me.’

Once he was assigned a post, he would be tied down.

Traveling freely wouldn’t be so simple anymore.

After a moment’s thought, Bai Zichen poured out an Earth Flame Spirit Pill, swallowed it, and began its Refinement.

Compared to the Essence Enhancing Pill he was most familiar with, the Spiritual Power gathered by the Earth Flame Spirit Pill was far more explosive. Taking it for the first time sent a stinging, bloated sensation through his entire body.

Three days later, the elixir’s Spiritual Power was fully refined. Just as promised, an Earth Spirit Flame had appeared in his Dantian Qi Sea.

After another three days, the Earth Spirit Flame was finally and completely assimilated, and he heard another DRIP as a drop of Spiritual Liquid fell into his Qi Sea.

Bai Zichen immersed himself in the joy of constantly consuming elixirs and watching his cultivation rise, continuing his training in one long stretch.

「Three years passed in the blink of an eye.」

In those three years, Bai Zichen had refined a total of eight bottles of Spirit Enhancement Pills and eight bottles of Earth Flame Spirit Pills. His speed at refining elixirs and absorbing their potency was nothing short of astonishing.

A major reason for this was the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo in his Qi Sea, which constantly stimulated his Liquid Magical Power with arcs of lightning, increasing the absorption efficiency of the Spirit Pills’ potency severalfold.

Besides, Bai Zichen’s method of closed-door cultivation was different from others.

Every six months to a year, he would emerge from his seclusion to handle various matters.

He wasn’t at all concerned that these frequent, short periods of seclusion would disrupt the rhythm of his cultivation.

Bai Zichen even found the time to oversee two Dragon Tooth Rice harvests. Subsequent transactions for the Spirit Rice were handled by correspondence, with Qing He bringing the Spirit Stones to Feiyue Lake to complete the deals.

As for the much larger expanse of Tier One Spirit Fields, he had no time to manage them and had fully entrusted them to Cai Heng.

After three years in seclusion, Bai Zichen’s storage bag was another hundred thousand Spirit Stones richer.

This additional wealth came primarily from the five thousand mu of Tier One Spirit Fields.

Although the profit per mu was extremely low, the sheer quantity more than made up for it.